• We have updated the guidelines regarding posting political content: please see the stickied thread on Website Issues.

The Plughole In The Bottom Of The Canal

Schwadevivre

Antitheist
Joined
Dec 13, 2014
Messages
549
Location
Near Skinners Bottom
It's an old urban legend that there is a plug in the bottom of the canal and that if you pull the chain the canal will drain

It seems it's not an urban legend

A rather enthusiastic amateur urban historian investigates
 
Fascinating. My first thought was 'but where would the water go', but of course he explains - underground river.

My local canal had a' between the locks' drain a couple of years ago for emergency repairs to a gate. there was no plughole, but they did let the public down into the cut for a looksee. Fascinating stuff. 300 year old bricks that are usually under water. Much of it was concrete, emergency repairs from a ww2 bombing that had to be done quickly to keep the coal moving along the canals.

The new lock gates cost something like £16,000 each, and had to be made in the traditional style, and of english oak, because although the canal is functional its also heritage. The whole process cost around £50,000 iirc, what with the pumping the water and the boat and crane to remove and replace the gates, and the stunning and relocating the fish. All for a stretch of water maybe 25 metres long.

Sadly I can't find my photos of it.
 
Back
Top